Install Unofficial Lineage OS on LG G3

Based on Android Nougat, the first unofficial Lineage OS appearance is here. In fact several Lineage OS builds have been already ported on several Android based devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S7, the Verizon Galaxy S5 or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2. Well, among the devices that can be already installed with the CyanogenMod customized source code is the LG G3, which means that this guide is just for you. Shortly, if you own the LG G3 and if you want to test the new Lineage OS don’t hesitate and check (and apply) all the lines from down below.

The unofficial build of Lineage means a custom ROM that might not be suitable for a daily use. Depending on what are you trying to achieve this ROM might or might not be recommended for you – so, if you are thinking in flashing a fully stable Nougat OS that can smoothly run on a daily basis, maybe the best will be to reconsider your choice as this update is still coming with software related issues such as bugs, lags, hangs, screen freeze and several other malfunctions.

But, if on the other side, you are eager to find out what’s new in the Lineage system and which features, apps and capabilities are being prepared by the community for your LG G3, then this step by step guide will be perfect for you and for your smartphone. However, you shouldn’t complete the steps from below without previously making a Nandroid backup – so, with other words, save the current Android system that powers your LG G3 for being able to safely go back to stock if that’s will be necessarily.

The unofficial Lineage update for the LG G3 is developed by those of xda-developers – the devs customized and optimized the firmware for your smartphone so we must thank them for this new Android Nougat update opportunity. However, keep in mind that this is an update that can’t be associated with Google or with LG. The firmware is not official and flashing it will make you lose your phone’s warranty. In conclusion, starting from now you won’t be able to reclaim your LG G3 warranty as you will be using a custom ROM software instead of the stock Android system.

Another risk is related with your data. Everything can be lost if you don’t use backup and restore solutions: syncing the data with your Google account, using cloud storage services or using apps from Google Play. In fact, if the backup isn’t ensured you are going to lose all your personal data, info, accounts and files along with system settings such as the EFS folder, IMEI / NVRAM data or internet settings. The reason is the following one: the Lineage OS can run on your LG G3 only if a hard reset is previously performed (clearing app data cache is also a must). Don’t worry, we will talk more about the wiping process at the right time.

Lineage OS is a custom ROM based on Android Nougat. Well, such firmware can be installed above the stock Android software only in certain conditions. In that respect, you must first root your LG G3 or else you won’t have success with your custom ROM initiatives. The root process will just unlock the internal Android system that powers your smartphone thus afterwards you can easily customize, optimize and personalize everything. TWRP recovery, or any other custom recovery image must be used on your phone – only by using this software you can complete the update tutorial.

There are general pre requisites that must be applied in order to make things happen. Start by making sure that a computer or a notebook can be used for downloading the files prompted below. Then, head your attention towards your LG G3 – on your phone, from “menu – settings – about phone” tap 7 times repeatedly on Built Number until the ‘you are a developer’ message is displayed; afterwards, go to “menu – settings – developer options” and check the USB Debugging field. When done, check the battery status: if the power left is too low then you will have to plug in the charger – usually this process is recommended if the power left is lower than 50% (if the charging isn’t ensured you can end up in soft bricking your device).

Of course, the Lineage OS that’s offered below is compatible only with the LG G3. That’s why this step by step guide should be completed only by the LG G3 users – if you flash it on any other smartphone or tablet various software related problems can be issued within the Android core system.

How to Install Unofficial Lineage OS on LG G3

First of all download the files that will be used below: the Lineage software package can be downloaded from this page while compatible Google apps from here.

For now, place the files on desktop.

Power on your smartphone; connect it with your computer with the help of the USB cord.

Then, select the downloaded files and place them on your phone – just copy-paste both files from computer to your phone.

Remove the USB cable when the copy-paste process is completed.

Also, power off your handset and wait a few moments until the shut down operation is completed.

When the recovery mode menu is displayed, first choose to make a full wipe. This process can be performed with ease, by choosing the following options: “wipe data factory reset”, “wipe cache partition” and “wipe dalvik cache”.

Wait while the wipe is performed. Then, select “install zip from sd card” and “choose zip from SD card” (if TWRP recovery is used just tap on Install).

When everything is completed you can go back to main menu of recovery for selecting “reboot system now”.

And that should be all. Now you can boot the Lineage OS firmware on your own LG G3. If you notice things that aren’t working as it should share everything with us and with other users who might want to use this step by step guide – in that respect just use the comments field from below.